Aquino may accept resignations of Lim, Tañada from BOC–Palace source

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III is leaning towards accepting the resignation of two deputies of Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon whose offer to quit was immediately rejected minutes after the presidential tirade against the agency officials in the State of the Nation Address.

A Malacañang source, who was not authorized to speak for the President, said that the President would let Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group (IG) Danilo Lim and Deputy Commissioner for Internal Administration Group (IAG) Juan Lorenzo Tañada walk out of their posts to effect a revamp in the agency.

A BOC source said that Deputy Commissioners Horacio Suansing (enforcement) and Prudencio Reyes (assessment and operation) and BOC director George Alino (enforcement security service) have filed their resignation papers late afternoon.

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As of press time, Lim said he has not heard from Malacañang on whether his letter of resignation was accepted or rejected by the President 24 hours after announcing it to media.

In a phone interview, Lim said he felt duty-bound to file his resignation after the President publicly berated the BOC for incompetence and corruption. I believe the President’s message is not only for top officials of the BOC but to all its employees who contribute to the image of the agency. We should take the President’s statements as both a challenge and an opportunity to effect lasting change,” said Lim.

Lim said that he felt he made a good showing in his position as intelligence chief with the slew of apprehensions made by the BOC under his watch. He said the main weakness of the BOC was its collection agents.